Mel Owens set as 'The Golden Bachelor' Season 2 lead: Everything we know about the former NFL player (2025)

Move over, Gerry Turner. There’s a new Golden Guy in the Bachelor franchise, and he’s a former NFL player who went from playing college football at the University of Michigan to being a Los Angeles Ramslinebacker for nine years.

The Golden Bachelor‘s debut season may have ended with Season 1 lead Turner and winner Theresa Nist getting divorced, but there’s no denying that the senior spin-off was a serious hit with viewers. So in wake of The Golden Bachelorette‘s successful first season, Disney Entertainment Television (DET) officially announced a new Golden Bachelor lead. In an unexpected twist, it’s not a Golden alum, as predicted…

“After a historic first season, The Golden Bachelor is set to return to ABC and Hulu. Mel Owens, the 66-year-old former NFL veteran-turned-lawyer, is gearing up to make his next big play as the second Golden Bachelor,” DET announced in a press release on Tuesday, April 22.

“Born and raised in a close-knit Midwestern family in Detroit, Owens’ athleticism shone through from an early age. After graduating from the University of Michigan, he was selected as the ninth overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft by the LA Rams,” the release continued. “Following his retirement from football, Owens transitioned into a career in law and moved to Orange County, California, dedicating himself to helping others — particularly those seeking justice for sports-related injuries. It was during this time that he met his first love, and together they had two sons. While life took an unexpected turn with the passing of his father and the end of his marriage, Owens channeled his energy into being the best father he could be, focusing on raising his sons and coaching their extracurricular sports teams.”

The release also explained that “after several years as a devoted dad, Owens is ready to rediscover a love rooted in the simple joys of companionship — sharing life’s everyday moments, making plans for the future, and growing stronger together as a couple.”

So what does Owens hope to find on his Golden Bachelor journey? Decider Features Creator Hope Sloop was on the scene in Southern California when Jesse Palmer introducted Mel Owens to a crowd of reporters, fans, and influencers.

“He’s eager to meet someone who shares this vision and finally find that perfect teammate he’s been waiting for in his golden years,” per DET.

For those who need a reminder of just how successful Turner’s Golden Bachelor season was, DET shared that Season 1 “averaged 10.4 million viewers after the first 35 days across platforms” and was the strongest average for any season of an ABC unscripted series since The Bachelor‘s 2019-2020 season.

While premiere date, cast, and other exciting details about The Golden Bachelor Season 2 have yet to be announced, fans and franchise alum can officially get excited about the next chapter in ABC’s Golden Era. Will Owens’ Golden Bachelor journey end in a touchdown? We’ll have to tune in!

The Golden Bachelor is now streaming on Hulu.